Our use of cookies

Options

Back

We use cookies to help our site work, to understand how it is used, and to tailor the adverts presented on our site. By clicking “Accept” below, you agree to us doing so. You can read more in our
cookie notice. Or, if you do not agree, you can click Manage below to access other choices.

You can choose whether or not to accept advertising cookies from our advertising partner Google using the buttons below. If you choose not to, you will still see adverts on our site, because they help us to fund it, but those adverts will not be tailored to you. You can also choose not to accept session and analytics cookies through the settings in your browser, but some parts of our site might stop working as a result. You can also learn more in our
cookie notice.

The officers have been recognised for the way they dealt with an incident in August last year, when they went to the home of a woman who had called the police in a distraught state after a domestic incident with her partner.

Sgt Burge was one of the first on the scene and found the woman intoxicated, agitated and distressed.

She had armed herself with a six-inch carving knife which was covered in blood from an injury to her wrist. Sgt Burge talked to the woman to try to calm her down but she would not put down the knife.

Soon afterwards PC Watkins and another officer arrived. Despite their best efforts she remained highly agitated, pressed the knife to her chest and threatened to kill herself.

PC Watkins and the other officer persuaded the woman to

move the knife from her chest but suddenly she started to cut her wrist.

At this point PC Watkins and the other officer had a fierce struggle with the woman and managed to gain control and take the knife.

A police spokesman said: "Steve and Peter are awarded for their bravery for putting themselves in great danger as there is no doubt the woman, who was in an extremely volatile state, was intent on taking her own life.

"Due to their quick thinking and brave actions she did no further damage to herself. She was taken to hospital."

The duo were presented with their awards by chief constable Matt Baggott and deputy chief constable David Lindley at a ceremony at force headquarters in Enderby.

The chief constable's commendation is awarded to officers "who have shown outstanding merit in the performance of their duties."